— Two affordable-housing projects will be financed in part by the township’s unspent affordable housing trust funds.

Raritan Township would have lost about $1 million of its affordable-housing funds to the state if it didn't spend or commit the money by July 17.

The governing body unanimously adopted an ordinance Tuesday morning that allocates $1.1 million to two projects: an 84-unit development and a 16-unit rehabilitation of existing homes.

One million dollars will be allocated to the 100 percent affordable-housing project. Nine of the proposed 84 units will be set aside for very-low-income units.

The development is planned for an 11.59-acre tract of land off of Walter E. Foran Extension near Junction Road.

The site, known as Flemington Junction, is owned by Junction Road Associates, which has a contract for sale with MBI Development Company. MBI is part of the Ingerman Group of companies, which builds affordable housing.

There is approximately nine buildable acres on the site, according to a 2010 resolution.
In 2008, the township rezoned the site to permit the project.

Ingerman had anticipated receiving a funding commitment by January 2011 and beginning construction by August 2011, the resolution reads.

If everything went as planned, the development would have been completed by this coming December or 14 months from the start date.

A call to Ingerman for comment was not immediately returned.

The project received preliminary major site plan approval from the planning board in November 2008. The company has to go before the board again for final approval.

The township’s second project, the 16-unit rehabilitation program, will be administered by NORWESCAP at a cost of $160,000. About $10,000 will be set aside for each unit.